A Cry for Peace: Remembering the Innocent

by Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

Shiri (32), Ariel (4), and Kfir (9 months) Bibas—three names that have been etched in my heart.

Their names have echoed in my mind as I watched the news of their release—not into freedom, but as lifeless bodies returned by Hamas, alongside retired journalist Oded Lifschits (83).

My heart sank, and my soul ached. That night, as my husband and I prayed, I couldn’t hold back my tears.

We asked God to comfort the loved ones of the Bibas family and all those affected by war. We pleaded for His mercy on the suffering and for justice to prevail over the senseless loss of innocent lives.

My heart was shattered, yet at the same time, I found assurance—God is still good. He is a God of justice. He still reigns over all the earth, and in His time, He will make all things right and new.

As a parent, I cannot begin to fathom the pain of losing my children. As a spouse, I cannot comprehend the agony of losing the love of my life. But Yarden Bibas has endured both, along with the torment of captivity, separated from his family.

The Bibas family is not alone. They are a stark reminder of the atrocities and collateral damage wrought by war.

They represent hundreds, even thousands of families torn apart by conflicts driven by religious, political, and ideological divides.

There are countless unseen and unheard victims—mothers like Shiri, children like Ariel and Kfir, grandparents like Oded—whose lives and dreams have been stolen by hatred and selfish ambition.

And there are grieving parents like Yarden, mourning in silence as the world moves on. All because of war. All because of selfishness. What have we become? How broken this world truly is.

The brutal deaths of the Bibas mother and children have stirred hearts across the world, igniting cries for justice. I pray for change. I pray for war to cease.

Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but I hold onto the truth that life on this earth is temporary. One day, wars will end. Peace and justice will prevail. There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering.

Until that day comes, as we continue to witness strife and heartbreak, let us not lose hope.

Let us pray unceasingly for the innocent caught in the crossfire, for the families waiting desperately for their loved ones to return, and for those forced to flee in search of safety.

Let us not just march in the streets but storm the heavens with our prayers—pleading for peace to reign and for justice to be served.

That night, as I lifted up the Bibas family and all those suffering in war-torn places, I wept. But even through the tears, peace settled in my heart.

My God still reigns. He is still on the throne. Wickedness is fleeting, and in the end, good will triumph. The God of victory is coming again, and He will restore all things. The pain of this world is not forever.

What the enemy meant for evil, He will turn for good.

So in this world of darkness and conflict, let not our hearts be troubled. We can take heart—for He has overcome the world.